Research Methods Flashcards
What does operationalised mean?
A variable is defined so that there is no confusion.
What are the two different types of variables?
Independent and Dependent.
What is an independent variable?
A variable that is changed.
What is a dependent variable?
A variable that is measured.
What are the two different types of conditions?
Control and experimental.
What are the two different types of hypotheses?
One-tailed/Directional and Two-tailed/Non-directional.
What is an aim?
A general statement that describes the purpose of the investigation.
What is a hypothesis?
A prediction of how the results are going to turn out.
What is an extraneous variable?
An additional unwanted variable in a study that can affect the IV/DV e.g. Room temperature.
What is a confounding variable?
When extraneous variables take effect.
What are demand characteristics?
Where participants change their behavior if they realize they are in a study.
What is the investigator effect?
The investigator unknowingly effects the study by unconscious behavior e.g. participant selection.
What is randomisation?
A way to reduce the effect of bias, extraneous variables. Can be done by a random name slecetor or random number generator.
What is standardisation?
All participants are subject to the same environment, information and experience.
What are the different types of experimental designs?
Repeated measures, independent measures and matched pairs.
What are the strengths of repeated measures design?
No individual differences.
Fewer participants required.
What are the limitations of repeated measures design?
Order effects - can be overcome by counterbalancing.
One condition may help the other.
What are the strengths of independent measures design?
No order effects.
What are the limitations of independent measures design?
Individual differences.
Uneconomic use of participants.
What are the strengths of matched pairs design?
No order effects.
Reduced individual differences.
What are the limitations of matched pairs design?
Time consuming finding similar pairs.
Perfect matches are hard to find.
What are the different experimental methods?
Lab, Field, Natural and Quasi.
What are the strengths of lab experiments?
There is high control over variables.
Standardised procedure=replicability and reliability.
What are the limitations of lab experiments?
Lacks ecological validity.
Demand characteristics.